Moving and resizing charts in Excel - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🎯 Scenario

intermediate

Move a chart to a new worksheet

You have a chart embedded in Sheet1. You want to move it to a new chart sheet named "SalesChart". Which Excel action or method will do this correctly?

A Right-click the chart, select 'Move Chart...', then choose 'New sheet' and enter 'SalesChart'.

B Cut the chart, create a new worksheet named 'SalesChart', then paste the chart there.

C Drag the chart tab to a new position and rename it to 'SalesChart'.

D Copy the chart, insert a new worksheet named 'SalesChart', then paste the chart as a picture.

💡 Hint

Look for the built-in option to move charts to a new sheet.

The 'Move Chart...' option allows moving a chart to a new chart sheet with a specified name. Cutting and pasting to a worksheet does not create a chart sheet. Dragging tabs moves worksheets, not charts. Pasting as a picture loses chart functionality.

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

Resize a chart using VBA code

You run this VBA code to resize a chart named 'Chart 1' on Sheet1: Sub ResizeChart() Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Width = 400 Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Height = 300 End Sub What will be the width and height of the chart after running this code?

Excel

Sub ResizeChart()
  Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Width = 400
  Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Height = 300
End Sub

A Width and Height remain unchanged

B Width = 300 points, Height = 400 points

C Width = 400 points, Height = 300 points

D Code causes a runtime error because of wrong chart name

💡 Hint

Width and Height properties set the size in points.

The code sets the Width property to 400 points and Height to 300 points for the chart named 'Chart 1'. This changes the chart size accordingly.

❓ Function Choice

advanced

Which VBA property moves a chart?

You want to move a chart object named 'SalesChart' on Sheet2 to the left by 50 points and down by 30 points using VBA. Which property should you modify?

A Modify the .Left and .Top properties of the ChartObject

B Modify the .Width and .Height properties of the ChartObject

C Modify the .Location property of the ChartObject

D Modify the .Position property of the ChartObject

💡 Hint

Think about properties that control position on the sheet.

The .Left and .Top properties control the horizontal and vertical position of the chart on the worksheet. Width and Height control size. There is no .Position or .Location property for ChartObjects.

📊 Formula Result

advanced

Effect of resizing chart with negative values

What happens if you run this VBA code? Sub ResizeNegative() Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Width = -100 Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Height = -50 End Sub

Excel

Sub ResizeNegative()
  Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Width = -100
  Worksheets("Sheet1").ChartObjects("Chart 1").Height = -50
End Sub

A Chart size becomes zero width and height

B Chart resizes to 100 width and 50 height (absolute values)

C Chart size remains unchanged

D Runtime error: Invalid property value

💡 Hint

Width and Height cannot be negative numbers.

Setting Width or Height to negative values causes a runtime error because these properties must be positive numbers.

❓ data_analysis

expert

Analyze chart position after multiple moves

A chart on Sheet3 has initial .Left = 100 and .Top = 150. You run this VBA code: With Worksheets("Sheet3").ChartObjects("Chart 1") .Left = .Left + 50 .Top = .Top - 20 .Left = .Left - 30 .Top = .Top + 10 End With What are the final .Left and .Top values of the chart?

Excel

With Worksheets("Sheet3").ChartObjects("Chart 1")
  .Left = .Left + 50
  .Top = .Top - 20
  .Left = .Left - 30
  .Top = .Top + 10
End With

A .Left = 150, .Top = 140

B .Left = 120, .Top = 140

C .Left = 120, .Top = 160

D .Left = 150, .Top = 160

💡 Hint

Add and subtract the changes step by step.

Initial Left=100, add 50 → 150, subtract 30 → 120. Initial Top=150, subtract 20 → 130, add 10 → 140.

Practice

1. What happens when you click and drag the border of a chart in Excel?

easy

A. The chart deletes automatically.

B. The chart resizes proportionally.

C. The chart moves to a new location on the sheet.

D. The chart changes its data source.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand chart border dragging

   Clicking and dragging the border of a chart moves it around the sheet without changing its size.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from resizing

   Resizing happens when dragging corner or edge handles, not the border itself.

3. Final Answer:

   The chart moves to a new location on the sheet. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Dragging border = move chart [OK]

Hint: Drag chart border to move it anywhere on the sheet [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing dragging border with resizing handles
• Thinking dragging border deletes the chart
• Assuming dragging border changes data

2. Which action correctly resizes a chart in Excel while keeping its proportions?

easy

A. Drag a corner handle while holding Shift key.

B. Click the chart and press arrow keys.

C. Drag an edge handle without any key.

D. Drag the chart border while holding Shift key.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify resizing with proportion

   Holding the Shift key while dragging a corner handle keeps the chart's proportions.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other actions

   Dragging border moves chart; edge handles resize but may distort; arrow keys move chart slightly.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag a corner handle while holding Shift key. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + corner drag = proportional resize [OK]

Hint: Hold Shift and drag corner handle to resize proportionally [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Dragging border instead of handles to resize
• Not holding Shift and distorting chart
• Using edge handles for proportional resize

3. You have a chart selected in Excel. You press the right arrow key three times. What happens to the chart?

medium

A. The chart resizes wider by three units.

B. The chart moves three small steps to the right.

C. The chart rotates clockwise three times.

D. The chart's data updates to the right column.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand arrow key effect on chart

   Pressing arrow keys moves the selected chart slightly in the arrow's direction.

2. Step 2: Confirm no resizing or rotation

   Arrow keys do not resize or rotate charts; they only move them.

3. Final Answer:

   The chart moves three small steps to the right. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Arrow keys = move chart [OK]

Hint: Use arrow keys to nudge chart position in small steps [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking arrow keys resize or rotate chart
• Assuming arrow keys change chart data
• Confusing movement with resizing

4. You try to resize a chart by dragging its edge handle while holding the Shift key, but the chart distorts instead of keeping proportions. What is the likely mistake?

medium

A. You dragged an edge handle instead of a corner handle.

B. You did not select the chart before resizing.

C. You pressed arrow keys instead of dragging.

D. You dragged the chart border instead of handles.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct handle for proportional resize

   Only dragging a corner handle with Shift keeps proportions; edge handles distort.

2. Step 2: Exclude other mistakes

   Chart must be selected; arrow keys move, not resize; dragging border moves chart.

3. Final Answer:

   You dragged an edge handle instead of a corner handle. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Shift + corner handle = proportional resize [OK]

Hint: Always drag corner handle with Shift for proportional resize [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Dragging edge handle with Shift expecting proportional resize
• Not selecting chart before resizing
• Confusing dragging border with resizing

5. You want to move a chart exactly 5 cells to the right and 3 cells down using the keyboard. Which sequence of keys should you press?

hard

A. Drag the chart border 5 cells right and 3 cells down with mouse.

B. Hold Shift and drag the chart 5 cells right and 3 cells down.

C. Press the left arrow key 5 times, then the up arrow key 3 times.

D. Press the right arrow key 5 times, then the down arrow key 3 times.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand keyboard movement of charts

   Pressing arrow keys moves the chart one small step per press in that direction.

2. Step 2: Apply correct sequence for desired move

   Press right arrow 5 times to move right 5 steps, then down arrow 3 times to move down 3 steps.

3. Final Answer:

   Press the right arrow key 5 times, then the down arrow key 3 times. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Arrow keys move chart stepwise [OK]

Hint: Use arrow keys repeatedly to move chart precisely [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using mouse drag instead of keyboard for exact moves
• Holding Shift while dragging to move (Shift resizes proportionally)
• Pressing wrong arrow keys for direction